Leaf bagging device



J. R. RITCHIE LEAF BAGGING DEVICE' Jan. 30, 1951 Filed May '3, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet l rm/ H OC e m mw M 4 Y 2 i NPT d nw bm l. l|| M M ii o e Mw BQ l H l .K f w a\\ n 8 a b 9 w A.. 8 w v, u m m d "L1 /m 1 m l .dJ .aM m w .1 iva d F @www 0. im M m c a 9 fl |9 Jan. 30, 1951 J. R. RlffcHlELEAF BAGAGING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1944;

Inventor: JoHNR. rrc :E af 'tftor( y.

Jan. 30, 1'951 Eiled May 3, 19,44

J. R. RITCHIE LEAF BAGGlNG DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FigfS eef InveniorJOHN RRHCHIE Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEAFBAGGING DVICE John R. Ritchie, Minneapolis, Minn. Application May 3,1944, Serial No. 534,002

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a leaf disposal device. As is well known, whenthe leaves drop in the fall there is quite an accumulation of the sameon streets and other places along which trees are located. The bulk ofthe leaves is large and it is quite a task to collect them and disposeof them. y

It is an object of this invention to provide a comparatively simple andeficient device for disposing of fallen leaves.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for receivingthe fallen leaves, reducing them to small pieces and compressing thereduced leaves into receptacles which can be easily handled so that theleaves can be utilized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine forreceiving fallen leaves, reducing the same into small pieces,discharging the same to a receptacle and compressing the same in saidreceptacle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine for receivingleaves and reducing the same to small pieces together with a framecarrying a plurality of removable receptacles, which frame is movable sothat one receptacle is brought into position to receive the leaves whileanother receptacle is brought into position where it can be removed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device fordisposing of leaves in which the leaves are reduced to small pieces andcompressed in a bag such as a paper bag, which bag can be readilyremoved from the device so y that the leaves can be used for fertilizer.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine fordisposing of leaves comprising a chamber to which the leaves aredelivered, means in said chamber for reducing the leaves to smallpieces, a receptacle to which said reduced leaves are delivered togetherwith a plunger for compressing the leaves into said receptacle.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a device asset forth inthe preceding paragraph together With means for stopping theoperation of said plunger when the receptacle has become substantiallyfull of compressed leaves.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the .several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in vertical section through a portion of themachine shown on an enlarged scale taken on the same plane as Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 5as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is aqview in front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 3as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section taken through the center of themachine Substantially on line I--l of Fig. 2 shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings a machine is shown comprising a frameconsisting of spaced pairs of vertical members IIl illustrated as anglebars, a pair of spaced vertical members Il and a pair of spaced verticalmembers I2, members II and I2 also being illustrated as angle bars. Acasing I4 is supported at the upper end of frame members Ill and II, thesame having an e'nd plate Illa to which members I3 are connected by theheaded and nutted bolts I5 having heads countersunk into plate |411..Casing I4 adjacent its other end is connected to frame members II by thebolts I6. Casing I4 is shown as frustoconical in form having its smallerend adjacent plate I4a. Said casing is open at its larger end and saidlarger end at its lower portion is made of substantially rectangularform as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A hopper IS is provided disposed atone side of casing I4, said hopper having a bottom plate I8a hinged atone side about hinge pintle I9, said plate being held in closed positionby a tensile coiled spring 20 having one end secured to the end of plateI8a and its other end secured to a small bracket or hook 2| secured tothe side of said hopper. Said hopper is open at one side as clearlyshown in Fig. 4 and communicates with the chamber in casing I4. A plate23 extends vertically adjacent the larger end of casing I4, the samehaving secured thereto a bearing member 24. A similar bearing member `24is secured to the front of plate I4a, said bearings being securedrespectively by headed and nutted bolts 25. As shown at the right ofFig. 3, bearings 24 are of the ball bearing type and said bearingssupport a shaft 26. Shaft 26 has secured thereto adjacent the frontbearing 24 a pulley 23. Said shaft 26 alsoY has secured thereto beyondpulley 28 a grooved pulley 29 over which run a pair of belts 38 alsorunning over a grooved pulley 3l secured to the driving shaft 32 of amotor 33 supported upon members 34 extending between frame members I9and II. While various types of motors might-be used, motor 33 isillustrated as an internal combustion motor having a fuel supply tank33a. Casing I4 has secured to the inner wall thereof a plurality ofmembers 35, 35, 31 and 38 illustrated as in the form of angle members.Bar 38 which is disposed substantially at the top of casing i4 extendsthe entire distance between plates Ilia and 23, said bar having oneflange extending substantially vertically and provided with a pluralityof spaced open ended slots 38a. Bar 31 extends substantially halfway ofthe casing from plate 23 as shown in Fig. 3, and said bar also has aplurality of spaced open ended slots in its inwardly projecting flange,which flange is substantially horizontal. The bars 35 and 35 extend fromplate lila to thel larger end of casing h and these plates are alsoprovided with a comparatively large number of spaced open ended slots a.A rotor 48 is secured to shaft 26, the same comprising a series ofspaced cylindrical members 40a having polygonal central openings fittingover shaft 28. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated theportion of shaft 25 carrying said rotor is made square in cross sectionand nts in the openings in members 40a. a series of disks h disposedrespectively between and at the ends of members 48a. Members 48aincrease in diameter toward the larger end of casing I4 so that theirperipheries lie substantially in a line parallel to the ends of casingI4. Disks 40h increase in diameter from the small end of casing I4 sothat their edges or peripheries lie in a line substantially parallel tothe ends of casing I4. Disks 451) are aligned with and arranged to passthrough and rotate in the slots of bars 85 to 38. Each disk flllb is cutaway at circumferentially spaced portions to form substantially radialedges 48o. These portions form in effect' teeth 49d having the radialedges 48e and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated there arefour of the teeth 43d on each disk. The disks 4Gb and members 49a.,which latter may be made of wood or similar material, are securedtogether by a plurality of rodsA 4I extending therethrough and havingthreaded ends equipped with nuts 42 which contact the outer sides of theend disks lieb. While the number of rods 4I could be varied, in theembodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as four innumber. Collars or Washers 43 engage the outer sides of the end disks4913 and collars 44 extend between the disks 43 and the respectivebearings 2. The square portion of shaftv25 extends between disks 43.

A belt 46 runs over pulley 28 and over a grooved pulley 41 secured toone end of a shaft 48 disposed above shaft 25. While pulley 41 could besecured in any suitable way it is illustrated as securedto shaft 48 by akey 48a, and a setscrew 50. Shaft 48 is journalled in a bearing I4bcarried at the top of plate Ifla. Shaft 48 hasA an enlarged portioninwardly of bearing I4b which is secured to a rather long sleeve 15 by apin16. A shaft 49 extends from shaft 48 through alinear-ing 23a carriedat the upper end of plate 23, Shaft 49 is also journalled in bushings 11in sleeve 15 adjacent the ends thereof. Bushings 11 space shaft 49fromfsaid sleeve. The'end Rotor if? also comprises` of'sleeve15 oppositeshaft 48 is formed as aY half 75 4 clutch. Said shaft 49 has a crank arm52 secured to one end thereof in any suitable manner as by a headed andnutted bolt 53. Arm 52 carries a crank pin 54 which extends through abearing in the upper end of a connecting bar 55. A washer 5B surroundspin 54 and engages the outer side of bar 55, the same being held inplace by a pin 51. Bar 55 has a bore 55a at its lower end in which isreceived the upper end of a plunger rod 5,8. Rod 5.8 has a Slot 58aextending longitudinally therethrough for a short distance and a headedand nutted bolt 59 extends through bar 55 and through slot 58a. Plungerrod 58 at its lower end is bored and provided with a bushing 59 in whichis carried a pin 52 which also extends through spaced ears or lugs 63aupstanding from a plate 63 to which is secured a plunger head 64.Plunger head 64 is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross sectionand has a lower surfacewhich slopes upwardly and outwardly at a decidedangle from the end of casing I4. PinV B2 is held in place by pins S5extending therethrough adjacent its ends at the outer sides 4of ears63a. A coiled compression spring 55 surrounds the lower portion of rod`58 engaging the enlarged lower end thereof at one end and at itsl upperend engaging the lower fianged end of bar 55. A sleeve 58 surrounds bar55 above the nut and head on bolt 59, said sleeve having a recess cuttherein at its outer side, the lower edge ofV which is shown inengagement with the nut on bolt 59 in Fig. 3. Sleevel 58 has' aprojecting flange 58a at its upperend. A small shell 59 is carried by orsecured to sleeve 68 and projects at the outer side thereof, the samehaving therein a ball 18 engaged by a coiled compression spring 1 I, theotherend ofwhich engages the headed screw 12 which is'threadedfintotheouter end of shell. 59.- Ball 18 engages the side of bar 55 andpreferably moves inA ashallow groove 55h formed in the side ofYsaidbar.A

The end of sleeve 'f5 adjacent bearing 23a is as stated, formed as ahalfclutch andadapted to be engaged by a similar-half;clutchformed on aclutch block 18 slidably mounted on shaft 49 and splined thereto by akey-19.- Clutch block 19 is provided with a groove intermediatefits endsin which are disposed the-heads of) pins BIT-carried in opposite sidesof-'a clutch fork lever 8| which has arms BIO', disposedat oppositesides of a lug 23h projecting from-plate 23; Arms 8Ia are pivoted to lug23h by a headed andI nutted bolt 82. At theirlower endsn arms 8Ia-arepivotally connected by a headed and nutted bolt 83 to the head 85 intowhichgis threaded a rod 85; in turn engaging one side of a swingingplate- 86 hinged at one end by a pintle 811to'the outerside of plate 23.When plate 85 is movedrtowardplate 23 it moves rod 85- and head 84 andswings clutch fork lever 8i to disengageclutch block 18. One of the armsSia has an upwardly extending projection SIb forming a handle for theclutch fork lever 8i. A pin 89 is secured to one sideofhandle Sib and isadapted to move into-the -path'ofa-pin 98 secured to shaft 48'whenclutch" block 18 is disengaged. A washer 9I-surrounds shaft 48 aci-'-jacent bearing 23a.

A pair of angle members 94 extendbetween pairs of frame members I2 and,I6` respectively and'have horizontal flanges with their bottoms ush withthe bottoms ofrfra'mefmembers I9 and also have vertical flanges in whichare journalled the reduced ends or trunnions 95a of a plurality ofrollers 95, said rollers being shown as iiveilnV number. See Fig. 5.Rollers 9'5are heldin place by pins 96 extending through reduced' ends95a thereof closely adjacent washers 91 contacting the angle members 94.Said rollers 95 form the support for a casing 98 which is substantiallyI,

rectangular in horizontal cross section and has a bottom plate 98aadapted to engage and move on rollers 95. Casing 98 has angle members98h secured to the lower ends of upwardly extending side members 98C.sections each of which is pivoted on a rod 99 supported from anglemembers 98b. Casing 98 has a central vertically extending partition 98hextending transversely thereof above pintle 99. Frame 98 also has anglemembers 98d extending along said side plates 98e at its upper ends.Casing 98 has end plates 98e and also has angle members 98g extendingtransversely between angle members 98d at its upper end. Rollers |00disposed adjacent each side of plate 23 engage the tops of angle members98d, said rollers being carried on pins IOI secured in lugs I4d formedat each side of casing I4. A pair of plates |02 disposed in verticalplanes, extend from plate 23 outwardly to and are secured to the upperends of frame members I2 by bolts or rivets |03. The upper ends ofplates |02v slope downwardly and outwardly. A triangular plate 63aextends verticall57 from plate 83, the same having a vertical edgedisposed closely adjacent the outer side of plate 23. The angles 98d onboth sides of casing 98 are engaged by the lower side rollers |00 whichas stated, are carried on pins IOI secured in lugs I4a on flanges I4g oncasing I4. Rollers |00 are held on their respective pins by small pinsor cotters |06. A plate |08 has a vertical portion disposed adjacent theouter end of plunger 64 and has its sides secured to plates |02, thesame having a horizontal flange I08a the bottom of which is disposedadjacent the top of angle members 98d and bars 98g which extend acrossthe ends of casing 98. Small angles 98)c are secured to the top and attheends of bars 98d and act as stops. Plate 63 has a vertically disposedportion 63h which extends upwardly and outwardly from the top of outerlug 63a as shown in Fig. 5.

Casing 98 has projecting inwardly at its upper end small lugs I I towhich are pivoted arms I I I adapted to be swung downwardly tosubstantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. If desired,

,these arms could be under tension. Arms I I I are adapted to hold theupper ends of bags or receptacles II9 which are shown/in Fig. 3 ashaving their upper ends folded outwardly, said ends being held betweenthe wall of casing 98 and arms III. Dogs I I2 are carried on rods II3journalled in the vertical flanges of angle members 98h, the same havinggrooves adapted to engage over the free edges of the swinging bottomplates 98a. Rods I I3 can be rotated to bring dogs II2 to engaging orreleased positions by arms II4 secured to the outer end of rods II3 atthe front side of casing 98. There are dogs II2 and arms II4 -at eachend of casing 98 as shown in Fig. 5. v In operation, the collectedleaves will be deposited in the top of hopper I8. While the device maybe variously disposed, in practice onev disposition contemplated is tohave the machine carried on a truck or other vehicle which moves alongthe street and gathers the leaves. The leaves will be deposited from anysuitable means into the top of hopper I8. Should a heavy object sueh asa stone, brick or piece of iron be collected with the leaves anddeposited in the. hopper, it will drop down onto bottom plate I8a."

Theweightof said object will Aswing said :plate:

Plate 98a is formed in twov downwardly about its hinge pintle I9 againstthe tension of spring 20 which will be comparatively',` light and saidobject will drop out of the hopper..

Plate I8a will be returned to position by spring 20. Very few, if any,of `the leaves will escapev from the hopper. Motor 33 will be operatedand thearrow in Fig. Ll. The leaves will dropdown through the inner sideand lower end of the hopper into the chamber in casing I4. These leaveswill be engaged by the projecting edges of disks 40h and cut up andreduced to fine pieces by the action of the toothed disks 40h and thebars 35 to 38 inclusive. The leaves will be moved toward the larger endand bottom of casing I4 and Will be discharged at the lower portion ofsaid hopper into the receptacle or bag II9. `Casing I4 thus forms achute or means for directing and discharging the leaves into receptacleII9.

As described, the casing 98 is movable transversely of the machine onrollers 95. The receptacles II9 which preferably will be of rather`heavy or,

stiff paper, will be disposed in casing 98 at each side of partition98h. One way of arranging saidv receptacles is as shown in Fig. 3, wherethe upperends thereof are folded outwardly and held between the arms IIIand the wall of casing 98. The bags or receptacles II9 will rest on thebot-` tom `plates 98a and will thus be held in verticalA or upstandingposition with their upper ends wide open. The rotation of shaft 26rotates pulley 28 and pulley 41 is rotated by belt 46. When the machineis started the operator will push sleeve 68 downwardly and it will beheldin its lower` position as shown in Fig. 3, due to the friction ofball 10. The operator will also swing clutch fork lever 8| by its handleportion 8 Ib and engage clutch block 18 with sleeve 15 so that shaft 49will be connected to shaft 48. Rotation 0f shaft 49 will rotate crankarm 52 and bar 55 will be vertically reciprocated. At each reciprocationbar 55 will press on spring 66 and plunger 84 will be reciprocated withbar 55. As the leaves accumulate in bag or receptacle II9 and reachplunger 64 they will thus be compressed into the said bag or receptacle.When the leaves have accumulated and are compressed so as to offerresistance to plunger 64 spring 66 will be compressed and pressure willbe exerted on bolt 59 against sleeve 68. As the resistance to plunger 64increases due to the leaves being compressed lsleeve 68 will graduallybe moved upwardly, bolt 59 moving in slot 58a. As sleeve 68 movesupwardly it is held in the position to which it is moved by ball 10.Spring 66 is thus .progressively most position and when in this positionit comes into alignment with swinging plate 86. There is some sidewisemovement to sleeve 68I due to'v the circular movement of crank pin 54.Sleeve 68 thus moves against plate 86 and moves it to the right as shownin Fig. 3, thus pushing rod and head 84 to the right and swinging thelower end of clutch fork lever 8| to the right.

This movement disengages'clutch block 18 so that.

rotation of shaft 49 is terminated. When clutch fork lever 8| is thusmoved to the left at its upper end, pin 89 moves into the path of pin 90and pin 90 which rotates with shaft 49, comes 'around'vr and strikes pin89, thus stopping shaft-49 4iii-"ptrl 7' s'iton with pin 90' extendingvertically and crank arm 52v extending vertically. This stops the'plunger G4' inits upper position. A bag has thusv4 been filled withcompressed leaves. The opera-SY torV now moves casing 9B I to the rightas showrr in Fig. 5, and the filled bag moves outr of align-4 ment withcasing |11I and the empty bag` which` has? been placed in casing 98'moves' into align# ment' with casing I4. The movementof casing 98 isstopped by' engagement of ang-les 98)c with the sides of casing M. Thefilled bagY will at this time be released froml arm or holdersv I- H byswinging' the latter upwardly. The bag may now"Y be closed and its topVsealed or fastened shut in" any suitable manner as with a staplifrigorstitch#I ing d'evic'e.- The bag can be removed front casing 98' by thevoperator pressing or! stepping on one of the arms lli, thus' releasingdog Hl and allowing the hingedbdttorn; plate 9,8m` to" swing'downwardly.The ba'g willthen' drop? out -of'casing 98 and can' be transferred to'the de'- ssired position. If desired the' bagr could bei closedA orsealed after being remove'd Another b'a'g will 'be placed in casing e8in the' position formerly loccupied by thebag whiclilias been filled.Wl'ien 'the bag which has been moved into' alignment with casing M'. hasbeen filled', casing H3 willi :again be moved on' rollers 95 andthe n'owern-ptyl bag will be brought into alignment with'. casing: HL Before'another bag. is nlledthe op'erator'mus'i'l jpusli sleeve 68 down to itslower position and must reengag'e clutch blocllrv 18.' with` sleeve15'.. Plate c'lcooperatingwith plate:l 23g and'. plate la-ac't as'guides. for: plunger 64.

From'- the above descriptionv it.v will beJ seen that.4 I have invented'avery'efncie'nt devicer for; disposing. of fallen leaves. Thei lia-'gsorl r'ecep*V tacles canY be veryconvenientlyf and quickly"filledEV withcompressed leaves' and? a* practical-lycorre tinu'ousY operationperform'edi The. leaves: have considerable valueas fertilizer'andA theycanthus be@ utilized.. 'I-h'eareduction of theleav'es torsr'nalb piecesrenders themimme'dirately available as fertilizer. Otherwise-the leaveshave' tofb'e-piledl somewhere andi allowed to: decay. The* leaves;varezusu'ally moret or less dry and mostof. thema are;A reduced tol veryfine condition; Thisy rei-n duced:v or comminuted material' canbe atonce mixed'with ther-soil` and is a: desirable and valueable: soilconditioner and fertilizer: Other` uses maybe foundifor such?. leaves.By compressing; the leaves; the objectionable bulkA thereof is ver-ygreatly reduced. Thisy hasy been one-serious-*olf-fl iectionv to thecollection and" disposalY off. leaves.

inthe fall seasonl- The bulk of the' leaves has" been s'o large that alot of vehicle equipment," was'necessary to handlethem. With thepresent: device the leaves' are reduced-to' smallvpieces on comminuted,the bulli' reduced to a small frac-'ff tion of its` previous proportionand' af valuable* product obtained. The leaves can be continf uously fedto the machine and the bags of come pressed leaves can be readilyremoved there'-l fjrom; It will be apparent tlrlat" the device' will;havea high' degree' of utility for ther purpose intended.v

n It will; of' course, be understood that. various"` changes may b'emade intheform, details, ar.-Y rangement and proportions .of the.partswi'tl1-, out. departing from the scope oil applicants in.-vention,l which generally stated, I consists-..inf.a dei vice capableofcarrying out the objectsabo-ve. set forth? in the partsand;combinationssof part-s SlQSd 'and deinedzin-l the; appended c1a=ims-Wlriatis claimed ist"` 4 f leaf disposal" device lflavin'gv inVcbnibina'l-v tion", afmenrber having an opening extending verticallytherethrough, means for supporting a receptacle below saidQopen-ing intowhich leaves are' discharged, mea-ns for compressing said leaves in"sai'dl'receptacle with increasing pressure' as said receptacle flllswith leaves, means for actuating said means` and means for, renderingsaid. actuating means inoperative when said receptacle becomessubstantially full of compressed leaves' and said leaves areA com"-prsse'd t' a certain degree'. A Y

2'.. A- leaf' disposal" device' having' in combination means forsupporting a. receptacle having an. open upper en'd adapted to' receiveleaves', an operating member', means for reciprocating said membiiincluding a rotating shaft, means for. rotating said shaft a clutch'connecting saidlas't mentioned'mearfis and shafts, a plunger have ingayportion slidably' connected to said member, a spring. between said'portion and member, a clutch-operating member, said spring' be ing-`progressively compressed. as said plunger en'- gages said leaves, andmeans movable when' said spring is compressed to a certain degree tomove into.y engagement with s'a'id' clutch-operating mem-ber to oper-atcsaldi clutch and disconnect said third mentioned means and shaft tostop' the reciprocation of said l'lr'st :mentioned member.

3'.` A lea` disposal device' having in combination, meansyiolrsupporting, a receptacle having' anv openupper end. adapted to receivecommi'nut'ed leaves,.a vertically movable plunger movable into' said,open end of said' receptacle to compress' leaves therein, a verticallyreciprocating ba'r' adjacent said. plunger, a compressible resilientmeans between said b'ar'. and plunger whereby saidy plunger istresili'erlitlyM pressed against said moving", said sleeve upwardly and amember engaged byY saidsl'eevewlien in itsupwa'rd position for operatingsaid'clut'ch' and' disconnecting said shaft from sanitair'. p

4. Trie structure s'et'for'tl'i in claim' 3', and lmeans forA holdingsafds'leve' in the positionl to which it is" moved. l W

5'. A leaf. disposal device having in combination, means"forsupp'orting" a receptacle having an open' upper'end" disposed'toreceive leaves', a' plunger. movable' into' said' receptacle' to"compress leaves therein'v withprogressively increasing' pressure; asubstantially horizontal rotatable* shaft, aV `crank arm on' said'sh'aftconnected' tot said plunger for; verticallyv reciprocating the' same', adrivingk shaft; a clutch*'connectingi saidzdriving shaft and?r firstr'r'ientio'ned' shaft, means for disengaging'said clutch when saidleaves have been compressed toa' certain degree to stop'the' operationof sai'df plunge-r, andi means forv stopping said' crank with' saidplunger in its upper-A most position when saldi-clutch is disengaged.- v

6.Y At leaf disposalfdevice having in cor'nbinav tion;v a frame havinga'n opening through'wh'ich" leaves are'discharged'; asecon'dlframehavingls'ide wallsfand` bottomaportions'; said bottom porti'ons leavesin said bags, said bottom portions being respectively movable fordischarging said bags.

7. A leaf disposal device having in combination, a frame having spacedvertically extending members surrounding an opening, a reciprocableplunger movable vertically between said members and through saidopening, a second frame disposed below said frame surrounding a secondopening of greater width than said first mentioned opening so as toextend beyond one side of said plunger, said second frame supporting areceptacle having an open upper end extending about and close to thesides of said second opening, and means for reciprocating said plungerto compress leaves into said receptacle, said plunger having a at bottomsurface disposed in a plane sloping upwardly and away from said side orsaid receptacle to which said leaves are delivered whereby said leaveswill be moved toward the opposite side of said receptacle.

8. A leaf disposal device having in combination, a frame extending aboutan opening, a second frame having side walls and downwardly swingingbottom portions upon which bottom portions a pair of receptacles aresupported, one of said receptacles being disposed below said opening,means for holding said bottom portions in bag supporting position, meansfor discharging comminuted leaves through said opening and into said onereceptacle, means for holding the tops of said receptacles in openposition, said second frame being movable to bring said other receptaclebelow said opening into leaf receiving position and said first mentionedreceptacle into removable position, means movable through said openingfor compressing leaves in said one receptacle, said first mentionedmeans being movable to permit said portions to swing downwardly 10respectively to discharge said receptacles when filled.

9. A leaf disposal device having in combination, a receptacle having anopen upper end adapted to receive leaves, a plunger movable into saidreceptacle to compress the leaves therein, a vertically reciprocatingbar, a Compressible resilient means between said bar and plunger wherebysaid plunger is yieldingly moved by said bar, means for positivelyreciprocating said bar, a member carried on said bar and movable therebysaid resilient means as the resistance of said leaves to said plungerincreases and as the compression of said resilient means increases, andmeans actuated by said member when sufficiently moved to renderinoperative said last mentioned means.

JOHN R. RITCHIE.

REFEEENCS @ETRE The following references are of record in the file ci'this patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 431,638 Zimmerman et al. July8, 1890 458,327 Lipe Aug. 25, 1891 831,170 Lupton Sept. 18, 19061,003,006 Maxwell Sept. 12, 1911 1,083,765 Smith Jan. 6, 1914 1,734,166Hausen Nov. 5, 1929 1,847,543 Warming Mar. 1, 1932 1,898,243 Coble et alFeb. 21, 1933 2,141,662 Ossing et al. Dec. 27, 1938 2,157,619 McElwainMay 9, 1939 2,242,557 Urschel et al. May 20, 1941 2,269,722 Laskso June13, 1942 2,290,812 Normal July 21, 1942 2,379,230 Griflin June 26, 1945

